Total seizures by EC near Rs 9,000 crore; nearly half comprise drugs

Karnataka figures among top 5 states in three out of five categories of seizures, rise across all compared to 2019

seizures by EC , political pulse, indian express

The Election Commission has released data showing that the total value of seizures in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections has reached Rs 8,889 crore.(Representational Photo)

Written by Samaa Liyah Dhar,

The data released by the Election Commission for the ongoing Lok Sabha elections shows that the total value of seizures of cash, drugs, liquor, precious metals and freebies between March 1 and May 18 has hit Rs 8,889 crore. Nearly half of the seizures, about 45%, comprise drugs.

In all categories, the seizures have more than doubled from the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when a total of Rs 3,476 crore in poll contraband was seized. In terms of value, while cash seizures have seen a 0.61% increase, liquor seizures have gone up by 167.51%, drugs by 209.31%, precious metals by 27.68% and freebies by 3,235.93%.

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A look at the top five states in terms of seizures of cash, liquor, drugs, precious metals, and “freebies” and other items, and the comparative figures for the states five years ago:

Cash seizures

Liquor seized from Karnataka in 2024 rose 372% from 2019, accounting for 21% of the total liquor seized in 2024.

Liquor seizures

Narcotics accounted for nearly half of the seizures in 2024, of which 29% was seized from Gujarat alone. Drug seizures in Gujarat this year more than doubled from 2019.

Drug seizures

In 2019, precious metal seizures from Tamil Nadu made up nearly three-fourths (about 71%) of the total precious metal seized across India. In 2024, however, Tamil Nadu accounted for only about 7% of the total precious metal seizures.

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Precious metal seizures

The freebies seized from Rajasthan have risen a whopping 10,280% from 2019, making it top state in freebies seized in 2024.

Freebie seizures

Samaa Liyah Dhar is an intern with The Indian Express

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